Screen for protection against ionising radiation emissions

ABSTRACT

A protective screen includes a front wall ( 1 ), connected to a lateral wall ( 2 ) running perpendicular or essentially perpendicular to the front wall ( 1 ), the walls ( 1, 2 ) including transparent panels ( 8, 10 ) over at least a part of the height thereof. The upper part ( 8 ) of the front wall ( 1 ) is inclined forwards, forming an overhang which permits the operator to approach the working region and with two holes ( 11, 12 ) to permit the passage of the operator&#39;s arms.

The present invention relates to a radioprotective screen, and moreparticularly a screen used in medicine or other to protect an operatoragainst ionising radiation emissions, for instance the X or gamma rays.

For certain interventions on patients, such as catheterism type,placement of pacemaker, vascular, neurological or urological tests . . .the operator (technician, doctor, surgeon or other) must be protectedagainst the ionising radiations to which the patient is exposed.

The existing protection structures consist of clothing such as vests,jackets or aprons made of radioprotective material.

There exist also screens made of panels or assemblies of panels ofappropriate material placed vertically and directly on the ground or bydint of a supporting skid.

But the clothes of radioprotective material do not ensure optimalprotection for the operator, since in particular they do not cover thewhole body (head, legs, arms and feet), and also since weight loads towhich these clothes are exposed. On the other hand, the currentradioprotective screens, for example as described in the documents U.S.Pat. No. 3,308,297 or EP-A-0 345 548, are not adapted to enable anoperator to work comfortably and in complete safety.

The present invention provides a new structure of radioprotective screenwhich is particularly efficient and interesting for the operator on anergonomic plane.

The object of the invention provides on the one hand better visibilityfor the operator, and on the other hand greater comfort when beingplaced behind the screen, within the framework of his intervention. Thisoperator thus benefits from better working conditions, without wearingheavy clothes, which enables him to intervene with greater accuracy andhigher efficiency, and thus in complete safety.

The radioprotective screen according to the present invention consistsof a front wall, associated with a side wall which extends at rightangle or substantially at right angle from one of the sides of saidfront wall, and both these walls include transparent panels over aportion at least of the height thereof. The upper section of the frontwall is tilted forward, thereby overhanging, for enabling the operatorto come closer to the intervention zone, and it is fitted with twoorifices for letting through said operator's arms.

Still according to the invention, the front wall of the screen is formedof a lower panel vertical or substantially vertical, prolonged by anupper panel whereof a portion at least is made of transparent material,which upper panel is tilted forward, forming an angle ranging between 10and 30° with respect to the vertical. Preferably, the correspondingangle ranges between 15 and 20° with respect to the vertical.

According to a particular embodiment, the front wall is formed of alower panel of opaque material which extends over a height rangingbetween 60 and 100 cm, prolonged by an upper panel which extends up to alevel corresponding at least to the operator's height, i.e. of the orderof 2 m.

According to another particularity, one at least of the orifices forletting through the operator's arms is provided with an oversleeve ofradioprotective material intended to grip the operator's wrist orforearm for better protection. This oversleeve is advantageously in theform of an <<iris>>, composed of flexible strips mounted on a circularcrown. This crown may be associated with the rim of said orifice by anyappropriate means, such a push-button for instance; and the strips, fourin number for instance, made of leaded rubber-type material, overlap andare preferably maintained by a flexible wristband which is situatedoutside, close to the external mouthpiece of the oversleeve.

Still according to the invention, one of the orifices for lettingthrough the arms is situated close to the angle formed by the front andlateral walls, and the other orifice is situated on the free edge ofsaid front wall, at the same level as the latter and open laterally tofacilitate the movement of the corresponding arm.

According to a first possible embodiment, the upper front panel fittedwith orifices for letting through the arms includes a lining systemcomposed of a mobile panel. This mobile panel is fitted itself withorifices for letting through the arms, matching the orifices of thefront wall; these latter orifices, oblong in shape and oversized withrespect to the orifices of said mobile panel, extend over the wholesurface scanned by said orifices of said lining panel. Thisparticularity enables to adjust the height of the orifices for lettingthrough the operator's arms.

Preferably, the mobile lining panel is guided on the front wall by meansof rails arranged laterally. This mobile panel is on the other handlockable on the front wall, according to several positions adapted tothe height of the operator, by means of an anchoring finger co-operatingwith an index arranged on the structure of said front wall.

According to another possible embodiment, and still to enable adjustmentin height of the orifices for letting through the arms, the front walland the side wall form an assembly mounted to slide vertically on aframe or substructure fitted with castor wheels.

The screen then includes advantageously a system for controlling theassembly composed of the front wall and the lateral wall, in the form ofactuator(s) driven by a control member such as a pedal or a push-buttonfor instance.

Still according to the invention, the lower section of the screen is inthe form of a frame or substructure fitted with castor wheels mounted atthe different ridges with, moreover, at least one additional castorwheel mounted to protrude on the front face of the front wall, carriedby a console, enabling to increase the sustentation perimeter of saidscreen, and thereby its stability.

According to another arrangement of the invention, the screen includes,attached to the front and lateral walls, or to the chassis orsubstructure, flexible strips of radioprotective material, such asleaded rubbed for instance, enabling notably to let through pedals,cables or other accessories connected to the material necessary tocertain types of medical interventions or others.

According to still another arrangement, the screen includes, on theexternal and internal faces of the front wall, small bars or profilesenabling the installation of sterile fields, arranged below the level ofthe orifices for letting through the arms.

According to still another arrangement of the invention, an additionalwall of radioprotective material acting as a ceiling, extends at leastpartially between the front wall and the side wall of the screen.

According to still other particularities, the screen according to theinvention includes a flexible curtain for protecting the operator'sback, as well as a removable resting arm for supporting said operator.

But the invention will be further illustrated, without being limitedthereto, by the following description of two particular embodiments,given solely for exemplification purposes and represented on thedrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents, in perspective and as a front three-quarter view, afirst possible embodiment of a radioprotective screen according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 represents the screen of FIG. 1, still in perspective, showingits inner portion;

FIG. 3 represents, at enlarged scale, a protective oversleeve in theform of iris, adaptable at the circular orifice for letting through anarm, and in particular the left arm of the operator in the example ofscreen represented on FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second possible embodiment of aradioprotective screen according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows the screen of FIG. 4, in perspective and as a rearthree-quarter view;

FIG. 6 is a perspective, rear three-quarter view, of the screenillustrated on FIGS. 4 and 5.

As represented on FIGS. 1 and 2, the radioprotective screen comprises afront wall 1 and, arranged at right angle or substantially at rightangle, a side wall 2.

The upper section of the screen includes an additional wall acting as aceiling 3, which may extend on the space, in all or in part, situatedbetween the upper rims of the front 1 and lateral 2 walls.

This type of screen, intended to protect an operator against ionisingradiation emissions, is composed of panels of appropriateradioprotective material. The different panels are supported by a metalskeleton, for instance of aluminium, which integrates a shield enablingcontinuous radioprotection at all the junctions.

This screen comprises lower panels which are opaque (for instance madeof wooden panels shielded with lead sheets), and upper panels which aretransparent (for instance of leaded glass or leaded Plexiglas) toprovide front and lateral visibility to the operator which intervenesnotably in medicine, for operations where the patient is exposed toradiations.

The substructure 4 of the screen is fitted with castor wheels 5 whichenable easy displacement thereof. It should be noted that the castorwheels 5 are arranged at each ridge of the lateral and front walls; onthe other hand, additional castor wheels 5′ are arranged before thefront wall 1, supported by consoles 6 integral therewith, in order toincrease the surface of the sustentation perimeter of the screen, andhence the stability thereof. The different castor wheels 5, 5′ arepreferably pivoting and fitted with a releasable unlocking brake.

The front wall 1 comprises a lower section 7 composed of a verticalopaque panel, and of an upper section 8 composed of a transparent panel.

This transparent panel 8 is tilted forward, i.e. towards the operatingfield. Its tilt, of an angle a ranging between 10 and 30° with respectto the vertical, and preferably ranging between 15 and 20°, enables theoperator to lean forward during intervention, and thus to come closer tothe operating zone, for greater visibility and greater comfort, notably.

The side wall 2 extends vertically sideways; it also includes a loweropaque panel 9 and an upper transparent panel 10 which provides lateralvisibility to the operator, in particular for monitoring his patient.This side wall 2 matches the dihedral shape of the front wall 1; thetransparent panel 10 has substantially trapezoid shape.

The ceiling wall 3 is here made of transparent material, but it mightsimilarly be made of opaque material if greater visibility isirrelevant.

The dimensions of the different walls are selected to enable receptionof all operators' heights. Thus, the front wall 1 and the side wall 2may be of the order of 2 m in height, for instance.

The lower panel 7 of the front wall 1 extends up to a point whichcorresponds for instance to the operating table; this lower panel mayextend over a height ranging between 60 and 100 cm, preferably close to80 cm.

The upper transparent panel 8 of the front wall 1 extends thereforebetween the level of the operating table, i.e. environ 80 cm, and aheight of the order of 2 m. It includes in its lower section, i.e. abovethe operating table, orifices 11 and 12 for letting through theoperator's arms, to enable the latter to intervene on a patient, andthus practically and reliably.

Particular means are provided on this radioprotective screen to enableto move vertically the orifices 11 and 12 for letting the arms through,to order possibly to adapt their level according to the height of theoperator.

Thus, these orifices 11 and 12 are arranged, on the one hand in thepanel 8 of the front wall 1, and on the other hand in a lining panel 13arranged inside the screen. This internal lining panel 13 is arranged onthe internal face of the upper panel 8 of the front wall 1; it isprovided mobile parallel to said panel 8, guided into lateral rails 14and 15 integral with the front wall 1, and its position is establishedby means of an index 16 co-operating with an anchoring finger 17. Theindexing finger 16 is composed of several orifices spaced vertically onthe lateral rim of the panel 8; the anchoring finger 17 is integral withthe mobile panel 13 and it is arranged to engage into one of theorifices of the index 16, relative to the level of positioning requestedof the orifices 11 and 12 for letting through the arms.

The orifices 11 and 12 arranged in the mobile panel 13 areadvantageously fitted with rings 18, 19, which can be disassembled andtreated in an autoclave readily, fastened by means of captive screws.

The panel 8 of the front wall 1 includes orifices 11′ and 12′ oblong inshape, oversized with respect to the orifices 11 and 12 of the mobilepanel 13, and whereof the sizes, shapes and positions are adapted to thetravel of said lining panel 13. These orifices 11′ and 12′ remain maskedpermanently by the lining panel 13, regardless of the positioningthereof.

The lining panel 13 is for instance made of the same radioprotectivematerial as the upper panel 8 of the front wall 1.

The orifice 11 situated in the mobile panel 13 is a circular orifice; itis situated close to the angle formed by the front 1 and lateral 2walls. This circular orifice 11 is adapted for letting through theoperator's left arm, for the embodiment represented on FIGS. 1 and 2.

The orifice 12 provided in the mobile panel 13 is arranged towards thefree rim of the front wall 1, and it is open laterally, actually in theform of a horizontal U to enable the operator to remove his arm easilyand to keep great freedom of movement.

For increased protection of the operator, the passage of the ionisingradiations through the orifice 11 should be limited by fitting saidorifice with a protection oversleeve 25 in the form of an <<iris>>. Thisiris 25 is represented individually on FIG. 3. It is composed of anassembly of strips 26, here four in number, which overlap partially andwhich are attached to a circular crown 27 whereof the diametercorrespond substantially to the diameter of the orifice 11.

These strips 26 are for instance made of leaded rubber-type material;they are preferably retained elastically at their mouthpiece, by meansof a wristband 28.

The oversleeve 25 in the form of iris is fixed in the orifice 11, on thering 18, by dint of its circular crown 27, by means of a system ofpush-buttons 29 for instance.

On FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be noted that the screen according to theinvention is fitted with small bars or profiles 30, on the one hand onthe lining panel 13, and on the other hand on the external face of thepanel 8, intended notably for the attachment of sterile fields. On theinternal face of the panel 7, the presence of two handling grips 31should also be noted.

At its lower section, i.e. between the frame or substructure 4 on whichthe castor wheels 5, 5′ are fixed and the ground, the screen includes aflexible protection apron composed of a juxtaposition of strips 32.These strips 32 may superimpose each other partially; they are made ofleaded rubbed, for instance, and they let through accessories such ascontrol cables or pedals useful for certain types of intervention.

These strips 32 are attached by any appropriate means to the lowersection of the panels 7 and 9 of the walls 1 and 2 respectively.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show an embodiment variation of a radioprotective screenaccording to the invention.

In this embodiment variation, the sections common to the previousembodiment keep the same reference signs for easier understandingthereof.

The front wall 1, the side wall 2 and the ceiling wall 3 supported by aframe or substructure 4 fitted with castor wheels 5 can be seen.

The front wall 1 comprises a lower section 7 composed of a verticalopaque panel, and a upper section 8 tilted forward by an angle rangingbetween 10 and 30° (and preferably between 15 and 20°) with respect tothe vertical. This upper section 8 comprises an opaque zone 34 situatedin the alignment of the lower panel 7, fitted with two orifices 11 and12 for letting through the operator's arms; this opaque zone 34 istopped with a transparent zone 35.

The orifice 11 is circular and it is associated with a protectionoversleeve 25 protruding outwardly; the orifice 12 is in the form of ahorizontal U, open laterally. As for the embodiment describedpreviously, the orifices 11 and 12 are advantageously fitted withdismountable rings.

The side wall 2 extends vertically and it includes a lower opaquesection 9 topped with an upper transparent section 10. In thisembodiment, the ceiling wall 3 is opaque.

The front 1 and lateral 2 walls as well as the ceiling 3 are supportedby a metal skeleton of shielded aluminium.

This metal skeleton may be adjustable in height with respect to thesupporting substructure 4, in order possibly to adapt the level of theorifices 11 and 12 according to the operator's height. This possibilityof adjustment, illustrated by the double arrow 36 of FIG. 4, is obtainedby a sliding assembly of the metal skeleton in question on thesubstructure 4. This sliding assembly may for instance be realised bymeans of guiding slides integral with the substructure, engaging intothe vertical stanchions of the metal skeleton; one or several actuators,of hydraulic type or others, form the control system of the movement,driven by a control member such as pedal, push-button, joystick orother.

The corresponding adjustment system does not show on the figures.

As can be seen on FIGS. 4 to 6, the screen according to the inventionincludes a flexible curtain 37 enabling the protection of the operator'sback. This flexible curtain 37 is advantageously composed of ajuxtaposition of flexible strips 38 of leaded rubber, mounted on asupporting arm 39 fixed cantilever to the upper section of the screen,for instance on the free rim of the ceiling wall 3, or on the upper rimof the side wall 2.

Preferably, the supporting arm 39 is mounted articulated around avertical axis to enable placement and retraction of the curtain, orsimply for adjusting its position behind the operator.

This flexible curtain 37 forms a kind of mobile wall for efficient andcomplete radioprotection.

FIG. 5 also shows the presence of an arm 40 which extends horizontally,cantilever from the side wall 2, substantially halfway up the screen,intended to serve as a resting member for the operator's back orkidneys.

This resting and supporting arm 40 is preferably removable; it may bemounted articulated on the side wall 2, associated with a retractablecross-bracing rod.

FIGS. 4 to 6 also show the presence of the strips 32 of leaded rubber,supplementing the protection at the lower section, in the alignment ofthe front 1 and lateral 2 walls. These protection strips 32 may beattached to the substructure 4 and/or on the lower rim des front 1 andlateral 2 walls.

The different accessories described, such as profile 30, curtain 37 orresting arm 40 may form optional equipment and be arranged individuallyor in combination on either of both embodiments described, or onneighbouring versions.

The open orifice 12 may possibly include a kind of protectionoversleeve, similar to the oversleeve 25 but open laterally. On theother hand, the screen may include two circular orifices for letting thearms through; in such a case, both these orifices will be advantageouslyfitted with protection oversleeves 25.

1. A screen made of radioprotective material for ensuring protection ofan operator against X ray-type ionising radiation emissions or others,which screen consists of a front wall (1) associated with a side wall(2) extending at right angle or substantially at right angle from one ofthe sides of said front wall (1), which walls (1, 2) include transparentpanels (8, 10) over a portion at least of the height thereof,characterised in that it comprises a front wall (1) whereof the uppersection (8), on the one hand is tilted forward, thereby overhanging, toenable said operator to come closer to the intervention zone, and on theother hand, is fitted with two orifices (11, 12) for letting throughsaid operator's arms.
 2. A protection screen according to claim 1,characterised in that it includes a front wall (1) formed of a lowerpanel (7) vertical or substantially vertical, prolonged by an upperpanel (8) whereof a portion at least is made of transparent material,which upper panel (8) is tilted forward, forming an angle rangingbetween 10 and 30° with respect to the vertical.
 3. A protection screenaccording to claim 2, characterised in that it includes an upper panel(8), tilted forward, forming an angle ranging between 15 and 20° withrespect to the vertical.
 4. A protection screen according to claim 1,characterised in that it includes a front wall (1) formed of a lowerpanel (7) of opaque material which extends over a height ranging between60 and 100 cm, prolonged by an upper panel (8) which extends up to alevel corresponding at least to the operator's height, i.e. 2 m.
 5. Aprotection screen according to claim 1, characterised in that one atleast of the orifices (11, 12) for letting through the operator's armsis provided with an oversleeve (25) of radioprotective material.
 6. Aprotection screen according to claim 5, characterised in that theprotection oversleeve (25) is formed of flexible strips (26) mounted ona circular crown (27) which may be associated with the rim of thereception orifice, which strips (26) overlap and are maintained by aflexible wristband (28) situated close to the external mouthpiece ofsaid oversleeve (25).
 7. A protection screen according to claim 1,characterised in that one of the orifices (11) for letting through thearms is situated close to the angle formed by the front (1) and lateral(2) walls, the other orifice (12) being situated on the free edge ofsaid front wall (1), open laterally.
 8. A protection screen according toclaim 1, characterised in that the upper front panel (8) fitted withorifices (11, 12) for letting through the arms is lined by dint of amobile panel (13) fitted with said orifices (11 and 12) for lettingthrough the arms, which front panel (8) includes orifices (11′, 12′)oblong in shape, oversized with respect to said orifices (11 and 12) ofsaid mobile panel (13), which extend over the whole surface scanned bysaid orifices (11, 12) of said lining panel (13), notably for enablingadjustment in height of said orifices (11, 12).
 9. A protection screenaccording to claim 8, characterised in that the mobile panel (13)co-operates with guiding means in the form of rails (14, 15) fixedlaterally at the front wall (1), and in that locking means are arrangedfor adjusting the position in height of said mobile panel (13), whichlocking means are formed of an index (16) arranged on the rim of thefront wall (1) and of an anchoring finger (17) associated with saidmobile panel (13).
 10. A protection screen according to claim 1,characterised in that the front wall (1) and the side wall (2) form anassembly mounted to slide vertically on a frame or substructure (4)fitted with castor wheels (5, 5′), notably for enabling adjustment inheight of the orifices (11, 12) for letting through the arms.
 11. Aprotection screen according to claim 10, characterised in that itincludes a system for controlling the assembly composed of the frontwall (1) and the side wall (2), in the form of actuator(s) driven by acontrol member.
 12. A protection screen according claim 1, characterisedin that it includes, in that it includes, integral with its frame orsubstructure (4), castor wheels (5) placed at the different ridges, andat least one additional castor wheel (5′) mounted to protrude on thefront face of the front wall (1), carried by a console (6), enabling toincrease the sustentation perimeter.
 13. A protection screen accordingto claim 1, characterised in that it includes, attached to the front (1)and lateral (2) walls or to the chassis or substructure (4), flexiblestrips (32) made of leaded rubber-type material.
 14. A protection screenaccording to claim 1, characterised in that it includes, on the externaland internal faces of the front wall (1), below the level of theorifices (11 and 12) for letting through the arms, small bars orprofiles (30) enabling notably to attach sterile fields.
 15. Aprotection screen according to claim 1, characterised in that itincludes an additional wall (3) of radioprotective material, acting as aceiling, which extends between the front (1) and lateral (2) walls. 16.A protection screen according to claim 1, characterised in that itincludes a flexible curtain (37) for protecting the operator's back. 17.A protection screen according to claim 1, characterised in that itincludes a removable resting arm (40) for supporting the operator.
 18. Aprotection screen according to claim 2, characterised in that itincludes a front wall (1) formed of a lower panel (7) of opaque materialwhich extends over a height ranging between 60 and 100 cm, prolonged byan upper panel (8) which extends up to a level corresponding at least tothe operator's height, i.e. 2 m.
 19. A protection screen according toclaim 3, characterised in that it includes a front wall (1) formed of alower panel (7) of opaque material which extends over a height rangingbetween 60 and 100 cm, prolonged by an upper panel (8) which extends upto a level corresponding at least to the operator's height, i.e. 2 m.